Extremely Rare Issue with A and Cornucopia

Sale: CNG 81, Lot: 642. Estimate $7500.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 20 May 2009.  Sold For $9850. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy II Philadelphos, with Arsinöe II, Ptolemy I, and Berenike I. 285-246 BC. AV Oktadrachm (27.79 g, 12h). Alexandreia mint. Struck circa 265-246 BC. Conjoined busts of Ptolemy II and Arsinöe II right; Ptolemy is diademed and draped, Arsinöe is diademed and veiled; AΔEΛΦΩN above; behind, A above Gallic shield; cornucopia below chin of Arsinöe / Conjoined busts of Ptolemy I and Berenike I; Ptolemy is diademed and draped, Berenike is diademed and veiled; ΘEΩN above. Svoronos 613; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC -; Noske -; Boston MFA -; Hunterian 38; Ars Classica XV, lot 1173. VF, die rust. Extremely rare, only two examples published.

About 265 BC a spectacular commemorative coinage was introduced by Ptolemy II, bearing the portraits of Ptolemy II and his wife and sister, Arsinöe II, on the obverse, and Ptolemy I and his wife, Berenike I, on the reverse. Commonly called the ‘Theon Adelphon’ series, a name derived from the inscription found on the coins, it consists of gold oktadrachms, tetradrachms, didrachms, and drachms, much of which was produced by removing earlier gold coinage from circulation and melting it down for striking. While most of these coins lack any other markings, a number of very rare issues were struck with subsidiary symbols, such as the cornucopia and A found on the present example.